We're on Fire!

[Ducati Diva]

The smoke here is awful! I hope it rains today! As of this morning it has moved into Great Smoky Mountains National Park.


Staff Reports
Published: April 29, 2009

Ray Stamper from the Public Safety Division of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians tells News Channel 7 that over 3,000 acres have burned. He says 50 to 60 firefighters from Oklahoma have come in to help fight the fire along with the Hot Shots firefighting group from Asheville. Also more crews will head to the area Wednesday to help with water drops.

Stampers says the winds picked up Tuesday evening and they anticipate the fire will spread further. The groups are contending with lots of smoke in the Big Cove community of Swain County.

The fire started Monday at 1:50 p.m. at the Stony Campground when a power pole next to an unoccupied trailer fell. The electricity at the pole started the fire on the ground. The fire skirted the trailer and went into the woods. The trailer had minor damage. The firefighters had to deal with 5 to 10 m.p.h. winds which carried the fire away really fast.
No structures or people have been injured. Daycares and the schools were let out at noon Tuesday. Cherokee High School was in the path of a lot of the smoke.

The Salvation Army from Waynesville has come in to help feed all the firefighters at the KOA campground on the reservation. The group will stay until the fire is out.

[Ninjakel]

Oh no!!!! :(

[Particle Man]

most uncool

[Ducati Diva]

So far they've managed to save all houses:rockwoot: If it goes on the Parkway I'll be called in to active duty. I hope not cause I hate the fire fighting part of my job. It sucks having to carry all that shit up and down the mountain breathing air that hurts to breathe.

[Particle Man]

So far they've managed to save all houses:rockwoot:

:rockwoot::rockwoot::rockwoot:


(though I now have We Didn't Start the Fire running through my head :rant:)

[Ducati Diva]

:rockwoot::rockwoot::rockwoot:


(though I now have We Didn't Start the Fire running through my head :rant:)

:dvrofl: damn you! Now I'm stuck with it to!

[Particle Man]

:dvrofl: damn you! Now I'm stuck with it to!

my work here is done...

[the chi]

Stay safe girl! I hope it burns out quick!

[HurricaneHeather]

How close is this to where you are? I don't know much about wildfire :sorry:

[Ducati Diva]

I'm a good way from the flames (I'd guess about 25 miles) but the way the mountains are smoke gets trapped so for about a fifty mile radius of the fire smoke is a big problem right now. It's only about 1 mile from my duty station so I am on high alert and may have to suit up before the day is over.:panic:

[zed]

anyone else see Donkey in that picture she posted?

[Particle Man]

anyone else see Donkey in that picture she posted?
I saw this:

[unknownroad]

Damn, good luck!
We had a major wildfire in SC this week, up by Myrtle Beach... Need to send all this shit back to California where it belongs :nono:

[njchopper87]

anyone else see Donkey in that picture she posted?

It kinda looks more like Chester from the cheeto commercial to me.

That situation sucks though.

[zed]

no

[Smittie61984]

It kinda looks more like Chester from the cheeto commercial to me.
.

"Riding R6s through NC is fun, Ooooh yeeaaaah."

[Particle Man]

It kinda looks more like Chester from the cheeto commercial to me.


that's what I was thinking too

[ZUKIMON]

Damn, I had no idea about this fire as all that they have talked about on the news lately is the fire in Norht Myrtle Beach. I hope you are OK and stay that way and they get it completely out. ;)

[Ducati Diva]

Quick update..

There's still no rain here but yesterday the wind calmed down so containment was about 50% last time I heard. I got called up about 1:00 yesterday. First order of business was to get all visitors off the parkway and shut her down. Don't know when we'll reopen as the uncontained part of the fire is partially on the Parkway. After taking care of that business I helped work on trying to make fire lines and breaks. Basically this means I am a grunt. I clear debri and underbrush, rake leaves and dig trenches. We set a few back fires to try to head off the fire as it comes up the mountain. I will be honest I'm getting to old for this :lol: My body hurts in places I didn't know could hurt :panic:

There is good news for me. I just found out my brother, who is a smoke jumper, has been dispatched to this fire! I haven't seen him since Christmas so hoping we can spend a few minutes together. If nothing else maybe we can roast some hotdogs together. :rofl:

We'll it's off to take a shower,eat, and head back to the office. Today I just monitor the roadway to keep people from being up there. Please keep all the men and women who are really doing the hard work in your thoughts. They are amazing in thier jobs and give up a lot to keep everyone safe!